There is an old occult maxim which declares that—" Nothing is concealed from him who knows." No Mason is bound to conceal that which he has never learned in the Lodge. All else he receives as he learns any thing, places his own estimate upon its value, and becomes individually responsible for its use. It must be a matter of conscience, and be weighed in the balance of duty, and every one must abide by the result. If Masonry has lost the Royal Secret, or if it never possessed it, or if it was wrenched away in the very name of Religion little more than a century ago, all the same, it belongs to the Craft as the Heir-apparent of the Old Wisdom. But the time has come when no cable-tow can bind it. It now belongs to Humanity equally with the Mason. To this end has it been preserved throughout the centuries.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

What Goes Up

I rather enjoy the symbolism of the ladder, yet in the physical sense I prefer not to climb them. Yet give me a mental, spiritual, of imaginary ladder and I'll climb away.

Many years ago, in my foolish younger days, I took a job insulating houses. At that time blown-in insulation was all the rage, a form of shredded recycled newspaper that filled the hollow walls, attic, and crawl spaces of houses that were often drafty behemoths built in a time before warmth. This meant a lot of ladder climbing, up, down, little ladders, big ladders, often placing one self in perilous positions just to keep the inhabitants of the home warm.

Needless to say physical ladder climbing can offer some very wise lessons in life.

The first thing one notices when climbing ladders is that the pull of gravity is very strong, something we often take for granted until we chose to climb.

I think you'd be surprised to find out how many have never climbed a ladder, or worse still only climbed a few rungs and turned back without even enjoying the view.

If you've never climbed a ladder you have to take other peoples descriptions as fact, even though each has their own experience.

It would be foolish for one who never climbed a ladder to describe the experience, yet if you look close and listen many do. There are even many that have never ever climbed a single step but since the family generations before climbed ladders they assume the title of ladder climber by birth, and yet haven't a clue.

For those that have never climbed and would like to I promise you the higher you climb the greater the vista, and if one is brave enough to look down one will realize and see each and every rung they climbed, some of the rungs that seemed so insurmountable now just history. As you look down you now realize just how small and insignificant the pull of gravity actually was.

When you do get to the top, my God the view! How large and expansive is your vista, then you realize that the description given to you by others that have actually climbed the ladder was true, and not information given from a limited perspective containing impressions embellished that knew nothing of actual climbing.

One of the most important things you should know about ladder climbers is that, more times than not the ladder climber keeps is mind stilled, remaining silent when ascending, willing to lend a hand when necessary but realizing you have to climb your own ladder and all the talk in the world does less than one step up.

Scathing, yet profound:“Their truths shared the fate of other truths; they were misunderstood and rejected by the ignorant, who continually clamor for truth and reject it when it is offered, because, being blind, they are unable to see it; their science is known only to those who are able to grasp it. Theology and Masonry have—each in its own manner—continued the teachings of the Alchemists, and fortunate is the Mason or the priest who understands that which he teaches. But of such true disciples there are only few.”…Magic White and Black, or, the Science of Finite and Infinite Life, Franz Hartmann

Oh gallant Knights, in fitting garb arrayed, With helmet high, and cross and glittering blade— Brave warriors in a warfare not to cease Till wearied souls shall find perpetual peace, While in this noble chamber met, Where zeal and light and love abound, Let's sit around the Master's feet, And listen to the gracious sound: The Master — Prince Immanuel The sound — His word we love so well!

I came across these pictures while surfing the web. What a beautiful Masonic mausoleum!

I put this together as a mini movie so I could add the music to create the right ambiance. Enjoy!!